Between ‘Here’ and ‘There’: An ethnographic exploration of migrant women’s experience of place as mediated through social media—PhD Completion seminar

Abstract: Migration and digital technologies are increasingly intertwined, shaping the contemporary urban experience. As digital connectivity expands and transnational mobility grows, the boundaries between places and communities become less distinct, transforming how urban spaces are perceived, navigated, and co-produced. Drawing on mobile ethnographies, including walking interviews and social media ethnography, this research explores how ubiquitous social media connectivity mediates the everyday social and spatial experiences of Iranian migrant women. It reveals how, through their everyday practices and interactions, these women shape what places and social media can become.

Biography: Shiva is a PhD candidate in urban planning at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne. Her research is situated at the intersection of planning, feminist geography, and media anthropology, using ethnographic methodologies. She investigates how social media is affecting migrant women’s experiences of place. Shiva also tutors in the Master of Urban Planning program at the University of Melbourne. She holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in urban planning from Iran, where she practiced as a professional planner.

When: Monday, 18 August 2025 4:00 PM-5:00 PM (UTC+10:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney.